Sanding device



Sept. 11, 1945. ca. w. THOMAS SANDING DEVICE Filed March 21, 1945 Inventor few 9 21f 7720mas,

Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANDING DEVICE George W. Thomas, Athens, Ga.

Application March 21, 1945, Serial No. 583,941

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a flexible sander, and more particularly to such a sander of the rotary power-driven type.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved sander of the rotary type characterized by an underlying layer of flexible or resilient material surrounding a power-driven drum, whereby flexibility is imparted to the sandpaper or emery cloth surrounding the reel to provide an improved and enhanced smoothness in the sanded work.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision of means adapted to be positioned under the emery cloth or the like and overlying the inner flexible roll, which will serve as a guard to preclude the sandpaper or emery cloth from becoming disengaged from the underlying roll.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the interior arrangement is such as to preclude the possibility of ingress of dust or sawdust occasioned by the sandpaper or the like to the interior of the sanding drum or head, whereby to prevent clogging thereof.

Still another object is the provision of such a device wherein the inherent flexibility of the sanding drum or head is such that virtually no dust accumulates on the felt or on the sandpaper on the exterior of the device.

A further object is the provision of such a device which may be readily driven by a flexible shaft or the like, in order to provide even more flexible operation thereof to provide access to places which otherwise would be difiicult or im-. possible to sand.

A still further object is the provision of such a device which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and operate.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive'concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the sanding device of the instant invention shown in association with a driving chuck therefor, certain concealed parts thereof being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1, as viewed from the right.

Figure 3 is'an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the center line of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-4 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain parts thereof being omitted, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw ing.

Having reference now to the drawing, there isgenerally indicated at in the device of the instant invention, which is provided with a driving shank H, secured thereto in a-manner to be more fully described hereinafter, one end of which is adapted to be secured for rotation in a chuck I2 of any conventional design. The chuck l2 may be rotated by a conventional hand motor l3 or the like, or may be driven through a flexible shaft of any desired known type. I

The sanding head i9 is comprised of a central core or drum It, into and beyond the center of which extends a slot or recess i5, intersected by a bore H6. The drive shank H is reduced, asat 'H, and terminates in a threaded portion It,

the reduced portion being adapted to be passed through the bore l6 and the threaded portion to extend into the slot 15. A nut is and washer 20 hold the shank and the" core member I i securely in related assembly, access being bad to the nut by means of the slot l5.

A tubular sleeve 2i, preferably comprised of felt or similar material, is positioned about the drum M, and is held in position, as by means of clips or clamps 22, one of which is provided with a cut-away portion 23 permitting it to pass about the shank ii, and which clips are in turn secured in position, as by end plates 26 and 24', the latter being provided with a central aperture to permit the passage of the driving shank ii therethrough.

Plates 24 and 24, and correspondingly clips 2!,

are held in related assembly, as by means of bolts 25 passing through suitable bores in the central core I4, and engaging interiorly threaded sleeves 26, passed into the bores from the opposite extremity of the device.

Surrounding the felt sleeve 2! is the strip 30 of cardboard or similar material, which terminates, as indicated at Ii, lust short oi the extremitles or the sleeve Ii. Adapted to be positioned around the exterior oi the entire device is a layer of abrasive material II, of any desired type dependent upon different kinds of work for which the device is employed. Such material may be sandpaper. emery cloth. emery paper, granite paper, or any other suitable material, a variety of sleeves being readily interchangeable by merely sliding the abrasive material on and oil the interior cardboard member ll. The cutaway extremities ll of the cardboard permit the edges of the abrasive material to engage with the felt, and accordingly preclude slippage of such material from the sander.

Now, from the foregoing. it will be seen that there is herein provided an improved flexible sander accomplishing all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial lmpcrtance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that .2 assaese bination, a cylindrical core having a centrally disposed bore therein opening into a recess, said core also having a plurality of additional bores spaced from said central bore extending therethrough, a shank extending through said first- 1 mentioned bore and having a threaded extremity extending into said recess, a nut engaging said extremity, a sleeve oi relatively soft material surrounding said core, a sheet 01 cardboard surrounding said core, a sheet of abrasive material 15 positioned about said cardboard, cover plates overlying said core at its extremities, clips beneath said plates to hold said sleeve in related assembly, one 01' said plates having an aperture therethrough to accommodate said shank, both 20 oi said plates having spaced peripheral apertures therein in alignment with said second-mentioned bores in said core. and bolts passed into said lastmentioned apertures and bores to hold said plates, core and sleeve in related assembly.

GEORGE W. THOMAS. 

